Sinn Fein policies will not help working families — Chambers

Fianna Fáil General Election candidate for Mayo Cllr Lisa Chambers has hit out at Sinn Féin’s economic policies by highlighting the impact they will have on working families.

Cllr Chambers said: “Sinn Féin’s policies would be disastrous on many levels, but they will do very little to help working families. Sinn Fein’s proposals for USC will target low and middle income workers in particular. Under Sinn Féin only those on incomes under €19,572 will be exempt from USC, whereas Fianna Fáil will abolish the USC on income up to €80,000. Furthermore, we will abolish prescription charges, reduce the drugs payment threshold from €144 down to €100, abolish water charges, and increase child benefit by €10."

She went on to say: “Fianna Fáil has put forward a fully costed childcare plan that will give a tax credit to help families with the cost of childcare. This will have a direct positive impact on working families as the credit will give parents childcare options. It is not a subsidy to providers, but rather to parents so they can use it to offset the cost of using a creche, child minder, or grandparent, etc."

Cllr Chambers concluded: “Fianna Fáil is the only party that can deliver fairness, improve public services and create jobs. Sinn Féin will target workers earning marginally above the minimum wage. The electorate needs to be aware that while Sinn Féin may claim to stand up for working families, its policy on USC clearly illustrates that it won’t.”